History Buffs or Bluffs

Spanning more than 12,000 square miles, the region of the Serengeti is a sprawling, diverse area of the wild kingdom. Hundreds of species of animals and birds, and many, many native tribes. But did you know, at one point in time, there was one major tribe that dominated the Serengeti? The Datooga tribe inhabited the Serengeti for hundreds of years, ruling the area with their strength and knowledge of farming. The Maasai were a small, young tribe, but were determined to make the land their own. When the Swedish Africa Company landed on the East African coast and made their way inland, the Maasai found an alley. One they could use to take the land from the dangerous Datooga people. What started the Maasai-Datooga Conflict? Were the smaller, weaker tribe able to overcome the powerhouse that was the Datooga? Or, is any of this real? Tune in now to find out!

As the richest man on Earth, J. Paul Getty was known all around the globe. This brought fame and fortune to the Getty family, but also trouble. When his grandson, John Paul Getty III is taken off the streets in Italy, you'd assume J. Paul and everyone else in the family would rush to get him back. Let's talk a bit about J. Paul, then you might think differently. Who is J. Paul Getty, and what made him the richest man in the world? Who took JPIII, and would the Getty family accept the demands of the kidnappers? Is this true or did Kyle make it up? Tune in now to find out!

We're going to the late 1600's to discuss a tragic bit of Dutch history! With the start of the Dutch's 'Disaster Year' the Dutch Republic was invaded by not only England, but also France and Germany. With their sea-trading cut off and half of their land seized, the people of Holland started looking for someone to blame. And their eyes settled on the De Witt brothers. What caused the angry people to go after Johan and Cornelis? And just why is this disastrous Rampjaar still recognized as the worst time in history for the Dutch? Was it real or did Kyle make it all up? Tune in now to find out!

Did you know prohibition wasn't just in America? There was another country, one shaped like fashionable footwear, that also enacted it, and it caused criminal mafia families to grow more than they already were. And one specific crime family, the Dello Russo's, ran an unsanctioned fighting ring that became so violent the Italian government needed to take them down from the inside. Was the undercover agent able to pull off his incredibly dangerous and deadly mission? Did the Dello Russo Family get away with it? Or is this story falso? Tune in now to find out!

Welcome to our podcast! We are a husband and wife, and a writer and lover of stories. Kyle is also a history buff and Sydney knows very little about history. Every episode, Kyle will tell Sydney an obscure, wild tale from history, and at the end of the episode she has to decide if it's true or not. Listen along and see if you can be a history buff...or bluff!

Happy Easter! While this is not a holiday-themed episode, we hope everyone dives in with us as we go over the Khamar-Daban Incident. When seven hikers go up into the titular mountain range, led by Lyudmila Korovina, they believed they would be spending three or four days basking in the beauty of the peaks and trees. Instead, what they got was a horrifying ordeal that none of them could have even imagined happening. What took place on the Khamar-Daban mountain range? Who or what was to blame for the incident? Was it true or did Kyle make it up? Tune in now to find out!

Political unrest and violence unraveled in 1850s Kansas, but a small, unknown event took place in Franklin County that involved no fists...or pants. A group of Free-Staters, determined to keep the evils of slavery from their soon-to-be state, would walk any distance to make their voices heard. Even if they arrived in the buff. What caused them to cast their votes naked? Was it enough to keep their state free for all people? Or did Kyle make all of this up? Will Sydney guess this one correctly? Tune in now to find out!

How far would you walk for peace? If you're like the humanitarian Irina Rupena, you'd walk much more than just 500 miles. As the Cold War was nearing its end, Irina and others with the Slovenian Red Cross launched a humanitarian mission to bring the world together, by walking the world's longest continuous route: The MEANA Trail. As the team began their trek, many around the world cheered, and thousands in the 13 countries they'd be passing through would experience the absolute best of humanity. Would the team complete the MEANA Trail? Would the Intercontinental Trek of Peace help bring some sort of peace among nations? Or, did Kyle make this whole thing up? Tune in now to find out!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Join us as we dive into an unknown Irish historical event. In 1875, a whiskey storehouse inexplicably went up in flames. As the firemen tried to put it out, the barrels of whiskey burst, leading to flaming, potent whiskey rushing through the streets. Was everyone able to escape the flames? Did the whiskey drown everyone and their sorrows away? Or was all of this made up? Tune in now to find out!Intro:Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy by Sláinte is licensed under a Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

The Great War has ended! While countries return to life at home, a horrible tragedy occurs that no one could've expected. At a shipping warehouse in Boston, Massachusetts, a loud groaning sound began to roar, causing everyone around to look up at one of the large storage tanks. As the tank burst outward, a large wave of a fast moving, sticky substance rushed those unfortunately in its way...molasses. How devastating was the Molasses Flood? What caused the tank to give? Could it have been avoided? Or did Kyle spin a wild yarn? Tune in now to find out!

Join us again as we dive into episode 5! As the first winter of World War 1 covered the land, men on both sides of the battlefields laid down their arms for a moment of peace and celebration. In 1914, the Christmas Truce spread across the battlefield, men from all nations agreeing to stop the fight seemingly all at once.Who started the truce and what ended it? Could it have led to an end of the war? Or did Kyle make this all up? Tune in now to find out!

At the height of their reign, the British Empire had controlling stakes all over the world. They seized power and resources, from the largest countries to the smallest islands. It was on one of these islands, that a small rebellion took place. The people of Zanzibar, led by a man desperate for change, tried to take the throne from the British in an attempt for control. It was here, where the true might of the British Empire is shown, by taking part in the shortest war in history. Will the people of Zanzibar gain their freedom? Will the British squash this rebellion flat? Or was this a carefully crafted lie by Kyle? Tune in now to find out!

Join us as we dive into newly declassified CIA documents pertaining to an early operation of the Cold War. What is that war again? Well Kyle will tell you. Hoping to destabilize the Red Army , the CIA worked alongside scientists to create one of the first insect bioweapons. Were the CIA successful in their operation? Did the KGB foil their plans? Or did Kyle make this whole thing up? Tune in now to find out!

We're back for episode two! Guess if this topic is a buff or bluff! Join Kyle & Sydney as they dive into the terrifying reign of the Gallant King Heinrich Beorn. Born a bastard, looked over for the throne, Heinrich Beorn makes a claim for the kingdom that was never meant to be his. With his new power, a reign of terror, torture and despair fall on the Hungarian people. Until they cannot take it anymore. Will the commoners take their kingdom back? Will Heinrich rain hellfire down on those trying to usurp him? Or...is this even a real story? Find out now!!

Welcome to episode 1 of the History Buffs or Bluffs Podcast! In this episode, you will meet your hosts, Kyle and Sydney Kochenberger [coke-n-burger]. They will talk about their own history, what they plan on doing with this podcast and then Kyle will tell his first story about the Dancing Plague of 1518.When civilians in Strasburg started randomly dancing for no reason, fear and confusion spread throughout the town. More and more people started joining and could not stop. Some danced for days, some danced for weeks and some danced til they died. What was the reason for this dancing? Did it ever stop? Or was this completely made up by Kyle? Tune in to find out!